PHNOM PENH, June 21 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- A 52-year-old man from southeastern Cambodia's Svay Rieng province had died of H5N1 human avian influenza, becoming the fifth human death from the virus so far this year, Xinhua reported.
“A laboratory result from the National Institute of Public Health showed on June 20 that the man was positive for H5N1 virus," the Ministry of Health said in a press statement on Saturday.
Health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and are examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim in order to prevent an outbreak in the community, it added.
Tamiflu (oseltamivir), an antiviral drug to prevent the bird flu from spreading, was also given out to people who had direct contact with the patient, the statement said.
The Southeast Asian country recorded a total of six human cases of H5N1 so far this year, with five deaths.
—BERNAMA-XINHUA
